All told, some 8,000 pounds of marijuana was recovered by Harbor Patrol ships and a Coast Guard cutter in the Pacific Ocean, 15 miles off Dana Point Harbor.

"At other events, they've dumped the bales to get rid of weight if they're being chased," said Border Patrol spokesman Michael Jimenez referring to drug runners. "Generally in these cases we're aware they're being dumped. What's more unusual is that the bales were floating with no boat in sight."

Jerry Conlin, a second Border Patrol spokesman, said the agency estimated the street value of the floating dope at over $4 million.